at worst

1. In the least favorable circumstance; under the most difficult conditions. For example, Convicted of taking a bribe, the official believed that at worst he would be sentenced to a few months in prison . [1500s]

2. In the least favorable view or supposition, as in No harm done; at the worst I'll copy the tax return again . Chaucer used this sense in Troilus and Cressida: “For at the worst, it may yet short our way.” [Late 1300s] For the antonym, see at best .

Idioms and Phrases

Also, at the worst .

Example Sentences

For instance, influenza can lead to serious lung infection and, at worst, death.

From Science Daily

The results were disheartening at best, and at worst, frightening.

From Salon

The men’s lawyers believe they have a case for a failure to disclose medical records and, at worst, may have had glimpses of a cover-up locked in the bowels of military archives.

From BBC

“To suggest that enjoying a concert aligns you with every past action of the artist is, at best, simplistic and, at worst, intellectually dishonest,” she said.

From BBC

Councils have never truly loved the idea of a service which could eat into their responsibility for staffing and services, and their submissions were at best non-committal, at worst openly hostile.

From BBC

Related Words

• at least
• partially
• slightly
• somewhat